5th October 2006 1.05 - 1.55pm

Ailish Tynan (soprano)
Julius Drake (piano)

  

Strauss - Seven Lieder
Henri Duparc - Four Melodies
Aaron Copland - Six Old American Songs

In 2003, Ailish Tynan, representing Ireland, won the BBC Singer of the World Rosenblatt Recital Prize. She became a BBC New Generation Artist in June 2003. Recent engagements have been with Welsh National Opera, leading UK orchestras and with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Sir Roger Norrington at the BBC Proms. Future plans include a recital with Bryn Terfel, her US debut as Zerlina in Don Giovanni for the Seattle Opera, Marzelline in Fidelio for the Royal Opera, Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier for the Stockholm Opera and Héro Béatrice et Bénédict for Houston Grand Opera.

Julius Drake, one the world’s most sought after accompanists, makes a very welcome return to Leicester.

STOP PRESS: Ailish Tynan is on BBC Radio 3 on 23rd November as one of the ECHO (European Concert Halls Association) Rising Stars series.

19 October 2006 1.05 - 1.55pm

‘L’Art du Toucher’

Sophie Yates (harpsichord)
Ann Martin-Davis (piano)

 

Elizabeth Jacquet de la Guerre - Suite in A minor
François Couperin - Pieces de clavecin from 21st Ordre
Jean-Philippe Rameau - L'Agaçante and La Timide (Rondeaux)
Maurice Ravel - Prelude
Maurice Ravel - 'Le Tombeau de Couperin'
Regis Campo - 'Deux Dances'

A totally delightful programme of French keyboard music beginning in the 17^th century with Elizabeth Jacquet de la Guerre (b.1659) described as "The marvel of our century" when she was taken to play in front of King Louis XIV at the age of ten, and ending with two new dances for piano and harpsichord with very different atmospheres by Regis Campo.

Sophie Yates (harpsichord) performs regularly in Europe, the United States and Japan, and has also worked in Syria, Morocco and Western Australia.

Ann Martin-Davis (piano) performs twentieth century and contemporary solo and chamber repertoire throughout Europe and regularly broadcasts on BBC Radio 3.

2 November 2006 1.05 - 1.55pm

Holly Fawcett (oboe)
Sophia Rahman (piano)

 

Britten - Temporal Variations
CPE Bach - Sonata in C minor for Violin and Piano
Antonino Pasculli - Fantasia on themes from Poliuto by Donizetti

In 2005, Holly Fawcett won First Prize and the EUCO Concerto Prize at the Barbirolli International Oboe Competition and she will give her Wigmore Hall debut recital in November. She is a regular guest player with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and the Budapest Festival Orchestra and has played with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonie der Nationen and Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester.

Sophia Rahman studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School and won the Royal Overseas League Competition's Accompanist Award and the Liza Fuchsova Memorial Prize for a chamber music pianist in consecutive years. Her work encompasses a wide range of solo and chamber activities and broadcasting.

16 November 2006 1.05 - 1.55pm

Jamie Walton (cello)
Daniel Grimwood (piano)

   

Saint Saens - Sonata No.1 in A minor Op.32
Grieg - Sonata in A minor, Op.65

Jamie Walton is establishing himself as one of the most exciting international soloists of his generation. He has given concerts throughout much of Europe, in the UK and USA, at some of the world's most prestigious concert halls and festivals.  He has just released his highly successful concerto debut CD with the Philharmonia Orchestra on the Quartz label playing Saint Saens which was chosen as CD of the week on Radio 3's Listening Booth.

Daniel Grimwood has been described as a remarkable young British pianist with extraordinary technique. Both Jamie and Daniel were recently admitted into the Freedom of the City of London.

30 November 2006 1.05 - 1.55pm

The Philharmonia String Trio

Maya Iwabuchi (violin)
Rachel Roberts (viola)
David Cohen (cello)

   

Handel -  Passacaglia in G minor for violin and cello (1720)
Beethoven -  Duo 'Eyeglass' in Eb for violin and cello WoO. 32 (1796-7)
Mozart -  Divertimento in Eb for violin, viola and cello, K563 (1788)
Allegro - Adagio - Menuetto: Allegretto
Andante - Menuetto: Allegretto - Allegro

Soloists of the Philharmonia Orchestra is a dynamic and versatile ensemble comprising distinguished principal musicians from the Orchestra who have performed together in many highly acclaimed recitals across the country at prestigious chamber music venues and Festivals.  Their concerts cover a wide spectrum of the chamber repertoire and attract a host of renowned guest artists to bring unique and exciting programmes to audiences within the Orchestra's residencies and beyond.

14 December 2006 1.05 - 1.55

Madeleine Mitchell (violin)
Andrew Ball (piano)

  

Dvorak – Sonatine
Elgar - Violin Sonata

Following her acclaimed appearance at this year’s Leicester International Music Festival, Madeleine Mitchell makes a welcome return. Madeleine was described last year by The Times as 'one of Britain's liveliest musical forces' and by the Glasgow Herald as 'a violinist in a million..staggering virtuosity and unparalleled musicianship.' She has performed in over 40 countries as a soloist in a wide repertoire and frequently broadcasts for TV and radio including the BBC Proms.

Andrew Ball is now recognised as one of the outstanding British pianists and teachers of his generation. He was Head of Keyboard at the Royal College of Music from 1999 until 2005 and regularly gives masterclasses internationally.

11 January 2007 1.05 - 1.55pm

Trio Goya

Maggie Cole (piano)
Simon Standage (violin)
Sebastian Comberti (cello)

   

Haydn - Trio in E Hob XV:28
Mozart - Sonata for violin and piano in e KV 300
Mozart - Variations for solo piano on "Ah vous dirai-je Maman"
Beethoven - Trio in E flat opus 1 no.1

Maggie Cole has delighted audiences at both the Leicester International Music Festival and the Lunchtime Series.Trio Goya was formed by Maggie in response to her particular love of the classical trio repertoire and a desire to explore this with equally devoted players. Their performances of Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven have been met consistently with joyful acclaim.

25 January 2007 1.05 - 1.55pm

Charles Owen (piano)

Britten - Nocturne
Debussy - Preludes Book 1

Charles Owen made an outstandingly versatile contribution to this year’s Leicester International Music Festival. This solo recital is therefore a must for lunchtime audiences. Charles’ concert activities are diverse and extensive, encompassing solo, concerto and chamber music appearances at leading concert halls all over the world. His most recent recording for EMI Classics for Pleasure, with Natalie Clein, of Cello and Piano sonatas by Brahms and Schubert won a Classical Brit Award in 2005.

8 February 2007 1.05 - 1.55pm

Dominic Seldis (double bass)
James Pearson (piano)

Dominic Seldis is the Principal Double Bass of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, but is also very busy being guest principal with many other European Orchestras as well as playing the music for many films, TV programmes, adverts and pop music. Dominic and James Pearson’s ‘show’ includes hilarious anecdotes all sewn together with wonderful music played on the Double Bass. Amazing technical wizardry as well as beautiful melodic playing, a little serious modern classical music and a touch of light jazz makes for a lively lunchtime concert.

22 February 2007 1.05 - 1.55pm

Paul Archibald (trumpet)
Juliet Edwards (piano)

 

Jean Francaix - Sonatine                                
Georges Enesco - Legende                                
Morton Gould - Boogie Woogie Etude                
Pierre Gabaye - Sonatine                                  
Georges Bizet arr Archibald - Suite from Carmen            

Paul Archibald is one of the UK’s most distinguished and versatile soloists. He and Juliet Edwards collaborate on a variety of projects. Each year they perform and coach as part of the Aberystwyth International Musicfest and the Dartington International Summer School. They are also founders and Artistic Advisors to the Brass Classics label and Juliet is a producer for the label. The duo gives frequent performances of a lively and varied repertoire for trumpet and piano, and is committed to performing contemporary works and commissioning new pieces for this combination.

8 March 2007

‘National Young Pianist Week’ Laureates

The Laureates have been selected as showing the most exceptional promise at the National Young Pianist Week held at Uppingham School, Rutland in 2006. NYPW is a residential summer course for pianists worldwide with coaching and performances from some of the world’s leading teachers and practitioners. The course identifies, nurtures and promotes exceptional young pianists through the Young Laureate Scheme, providing guidance, practical support and opportunities for the development. This year's performers are Cathy So, Imogen Baylis and Jinah Shim.

Cathy So
Sospiro number ll                                  Liszt
Fete-dieu a seville' from 'Iberia'              Isaac Albeniz

Imogen Baylis
Reflets dans l'eau                                   Debussy
Petrarch sonnet 104                               Liszt
Widmung                                              Schumann/Liszt

Jinah Shim
Partita II in C Minor ‘Sinfonia’                  Bach
Nocturne in Db major, Op 27 No.2           Chopin
L’isle Joyeuse                                        Debussy

Cathy So was born in 1987 and started learning the piano at the age of 6. She was taught by Anna Le Hair from the age of 9. Throughout her musical years, she has won many festival classes and has been the holder of the Walter Deakin Bursary. She took part in the Woking Young Musician Competition where she won a scholarship to go to a summer piano school of her choice – National Young Pianist Week.

Cathy has won the three year Music McMyn Scholarship to Manchester University to study music where she continues her piano studies with Ben Frith. She enjoys music as both a soloist and accompanist, and feels that a degree in music would  offer her the scope of academic music studies she wishes to achieve as well as vast performance opportunities. She also enjoys Chinese dancing and was once National winner.

Imogen Baylis currently studies with Lucy Parham at Junior Guildhall and will be a full-time student at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama from September 2007. As well as performing extensively at Junior Guildhall, she is very involved in the music at her sixth form college and performs regularly in Cambridge. She has recently performed Finz's Eclogue with Cambridge Youth String Ensemble and will perform the first movement of the Schumann piano concerto in May of this year with her college orchestra.

As well as solo playing, Imogen enjoys chamber music. She has a piano duo at Junior Guildhall, a quintet for piano and wind instruments and a sextet for string quartet, piano and clarinet. This season, Imogen is giving recitals in London, Cardiff, Woking, Leicester and Cambridge.

Jinah Shim DipABRSM was born in 1991 and started learning the piano at the age of 5 with Rosemary Cross. During her junior school years, Jinah won many awards and festival classes, including the Ivan Cousins award for gaining the highest Associated Board mark for Grade 6. She represented the Northfield Festival at the National Piano Festival in London and has been a winner of the European Piano Teachers’ Association competition. She also gained her ABRSM Diploma in performance at the age of 13.

Jinah has won a scholarship to Birmingham Conservatoire Junior Department where she continues her piano studies with Malcolm Wilson. She was the winner of the Junior Conservatoire’s Concerto Trials and has performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.3 with the Junior Conservatoire Symphony Orchestra.

Jinah attends King Edward VI High School for Girls in Birmingham. She enjoys playing music very much, both as a soloist and a chamber music player at her school and at the Conservatoire. Jinah wishes to continue her music studies in the future.

22 March 2007 1.05 - 1.55pm

The Haffner Wind Ensemble

Nicholas Daniel (oboe)
Joy Farrall (clarinet)
Michael Cox (flute)
Sarah Burnett (bassoon)
Stephen Bell (horn)

Nicholas Daniel, Artistic Director of the Leicester International Music Festival, fittingly ends the lunchtime series with the Haffner Wind Ensemble. Each member of the ensemble is a chamber musician and a soloist as well as a principal of the Britten Sinfonia; in addition, all are experienced teachers in the UK and abroad.  The breadth of their musical experience as individuals and their extensive work together in the Britten Sinfonia combine to create a secure and fluent ensemble which plays  with freshness and vivacity and which excels not only in the classics of the wind repertoire but also in contemporary music. The Haffner Wind Ensemble enjoys an enviable reputation for imaginative programming, juxtaposing the classic and the contemporary, for championing contemporary music, for outstanding musicianship and, above all, for its warm and engaging performances. The programme will include works by Mozart, Lachner, Milhaud, Perotin and Knussen.

Home